If you wish to provide feedback or subscribe to this newsletter please contact Sasha Horsell on (03) 6222 5965 or email tasmania.statistics@abs.gov.au. We also encourage you to place this newsletter on your organisation's intranet.

This is the first in a series of information papers about the 2011 Census. It marks the first step in the public consultation process for 2011 and outlines ABS proposals for the next Census, including:

procedures for conducting the Census

arrangements to protect the privacy of individuals

measures to ensure the confidentiality of the information collected

topics to be included

topics under review, including new topic proposals

topics to be excluded

How do I make a submission?

Submissions can be lodged either online, by email or in hardcopy. The submission period opened 26 October 2007 following the release of the Information Paper and closes31 March 2008. Users of Census data and interested members of the public are invited to make submissions on any aspect of the Census.

The Information Paper and Submission Form are currently available on the ABS website (for free download) at www.abs.gov.au/2011censusviews. Information and guidelines about making a submission are also available from the website.

What happens next?

Following the assessment of submissions and consultation meetings, recommendations on the content and procedures of the 2011 Census will be discussed with the Australian Statistics Advisory Council later in 2008. The ABS will then prepare a submission to the Federal Government during 2009. A final decision on the 2011 Census topics is expected to be made by the Federal Government in late 2009. The ABS will then release a further Information Paper outlining the final nature and content of the 2011 Census.

All individuals or organisations who have made submissions will be advised of the final outcomes.

ABS in Tasmania is currently developing a program of short introductory statistical courses to be run in 2008. The program will cover topics such as how statistics are collected, key statistical concepts, and ABS statistical collections. It will also provide practical guidelines about where to locate ABS data and how to analyse and present it. The courses will last between two hours to half a day, and will be spread over several months.

The program is aimed at beginners or those requiring a refresher. Enrolment will be offered for either the entire program (at a discounted rate) or for individual courses.

Examples of courses include:

The Survey Cycle - summarises the steps and issues involved in collecting and producing data

Economic, Labour and Social Statistics - introduces key concepts and collections produced by the ABS

Presenting data - how to present data in text and graphical form

If you would like information about the program or any of these courses, or you would like to register interest, please contact Sally Wilkinson on (03) 6222 5878 or email tasmania.statistics@abs.gov.au.

The ABS has recently made changes to the sample for its household surveys. The changes improve the sample size for the Northern Territory but lead to an overall reduction in the national sample that may impact on some survey results. Read on to find out more...

What are ABS household surveys?

The ABS runs sample surveys of households to collect data on various topics related to population wellbeing. The Household Survey Program complements Population Census data by providing more detailed data on a range of topics and by providing data for key population subgroups. The Program comprises three different types of surveys:

the Monthly Population Survey (MPS) which comprises the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and a range of supplementary surveys on specific topics - e.g. Characteristics of Migrants, Energy Use and Conservation, and Labour Mobility;

the Multi-Purpose Household Survey (MPHS) which is run on a sub-sample of the MPS and covers topics in more detail than the MPS - e.g. Participation in Sport and Physical Activity, Retirement and Retirement Intentions, and Environmental Issues: People's Views and Practices; and

Special Social Surveys (SSS) which are major surveys designed for covering specific topics in some depth and detail. These are conducted with varying frequency. Examples include the General Social Survey, the National Health Survey, and the Survey of Income and Housing.

Every five years, following the Census of Population and Housing, the Master Sample for the ABS Household Survey Program is reselected. This ensures that the sample continues to accurately represent the distribution of the Australian population, that the sample design is as efficient as possible, and that it will meet the needs of the range of ABS household surveys over the following five-year period. The sample for the upcoming five-year period has now been selected. The new sample for the Monthly Population Survey (MPS) will be introduced over the period November 2007 to June 2008.

What has been changed?

The two key changes to the MPS sample design for the upcoming five-year period are:

a large increase in sample size for the Northern Territory; and

an 11% reduction in the initial sample size at the national level following the introduction of a new estimation method (called Composite Estimation).

For some time, concerns have been raised regarding the high sampling error associated with Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates for the Northern Territory. The increase in sample size will result in a significant reduction in the sampling error associated with LFS estimates; the standard error for employment in the Northern Territory will be reduced by around 40%, and the standard error for unemployment will be reduced by around 30%.

In recent years ABS has faced increasing costs in running the LFS. These have been caused by external pressures such as the tight labour market and difficulties in contacting householders in some situations. The 11% sample reduction was required to manage these costs. However, despite the lower sample size, ABS is able to maintain the standard errors for key estimates at close to current levels by using the efficiencies gained from using Composite Estimation, a new estimation method introduced in June 2007. For Tasmania, standard errors will improve slightly for both employment and unemployment (the Relative Standard Errors or RSEs, will decrease from 1.6% to 1.5% for employment, and from 8.7% to 8.3% for unemployment).

How will this affect ABS household surveys?

MPS supplementary surveys are conducted on part of the LFS sample, consequently, the reduction in sample size for the LFS also applies to them. Due to the infrequency of the collections, these surveys are unable to obtain any efficiency gains from Composite Estimation, and as a result, standard errors on most estimates will not be maintained at current levels. Therefore, it is expected that there will be an increase in RSEs for 2008 MPS supplementary topics compared with those run in 2007. The exception is estimates for the Northern Territory, where the large increase in sample size will result in lower standard errors.

The sample size for the Multi-Purpose Household Survey (MPHS) is not affected by the decrease in sample size for the LFS. The MPHS sample size is being maintained by increasing the proportion of LFS persons surveyed. However, the sample will be redistributed differently across the states and territories. The standard errors of Tasmanian MPHS estimates will be maintained under the redesigned sample.

The sample size for Special Social Surveys (SSS) is independent of the LFS sample however it is likely that the sample size for the SSS will also decrease over time due to the need to accommodate the increased operational costs mentioned above.

How can I find out more?

More information about the changes in the Labour Force Survey sample design is contained in the following publication: Information Paper: Labour Force Survey Sample Design, Nov 2007 (cat. no. 6269.0) released 28 November 2007. If you have any further queries, please contact Carmel O'Regan on (02) 6252 6127 or call the ABS on 1300 135 070.

New measures of Gross State Product now being used in State Accounts Data

Since 1987 the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has published annual estimates of Gross State Product (GSP) in Australian National Accounts: State Accounts (cat. no. 5220.0). Until 2006-07, the official volume estimates of GSP growth were based on the income/expenditure approach - GSP(I/E). GSP estimates using the Production approach GSP(P) as a volume measure were introduced for the first time in the latest publication: Australian National Accounts: State Accounts, 2006-07 (cat. no. 5220.0) which was released 16 November 2007.

The introduction of GSP(P) estimates results in alternative measures of economic activity available for each state. There are three possible volume measures of GSP which can be chosen as the headline measure of economic growth:

volume estimates of GSP(P)

volume estimates of GSP using the income/expenditure approach GSP(I/E)

a simple average of these volume estimates, i.e. GSP(A)

In considering the merits of the various options, the ABS in consultation with the State Accounts User Group (SAUG), concluded that the average measure GSP(A) is preferred. The ABS considers this measure maximises the use of information about state economic activity and that it will be more stable over time.

The development of the volume estimates for GSP(P) has had impact on the presentation of the current prices estimates of GSP. The volume measure for GSP(P) has been reflated using the GSP(E) deflator to produce a current price GSP(P). This has been averaged with the existing current price GSP, i.e. GSP estimated using the income approach in current prices, to produce a current price GSP(A) estimate. The current price estimates of GSP using the income approach GSP(I) and GSP(P) also contain statistical discrepancies in order to reconcile them with GSP(A).

This publication presents counts of businesses sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Business Register, and replaces all previous business counts releases. It includes data measuring levels and rates of business entries to and exits from the Australian economy, and business survival. The main change to the data centres around the publication of new business counts, entries, exits and survival information as at June 2007, and the use of 2007 data (where possible) to allocate employment and turnover values to individual businesses.

This publication is accompanied by the release of a range of detailed datacubes presented by industry, sector, type of legal organisation, and business size dimensions. Geographical information is presented at both the State and sub-State levels, including for the first time, Statistical Local Area (SLA) level data. The SLA datacubes will replace the previously available postcode data.

At June 2007, the proportion of businesses by state was broadly aligned with the proportion of Australia's population by state. The main difference was that the larger states had a slightly greater proportion of Australia's businesses than they did of Australia's population (e.g. New South Wales had 33.8% of businesses and 32.8% of the population), while for smaller states such as Tasmania, the proportion of the population continues to outweigh the proportion of businesses, (e.g. Tasmania had 1.9% of businesses compared to 2.3% of the population). This may in part be explained by the classification of businesses to their main state of operation, where that state is less likely to be one of the smaller states.

In the year to June 2007, entry rates were lowest in Tasmania (14.5%) while exit rates were highest for the Australian Capital Territory (16.0%), and the Northern Territory (15.8%), closely followed by Queensland (15.4%).

Of those businesses operating in June 2003, the survival rates at June 2007 followed the trend from June 2006. Survival rates were highest in Tasmania and South Australia and lowest in the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. The survival rates for business entries during 2003-04 were highest for Tasmania and lowest for the Northern Territory.

The ABS plans to conduct surveys on nursing homes, aged care, child care, residential care, and non-residential care for the 2008-09 financial year. The Goods and Services National Statistics Centre has commenced consultation with relevant stakeholders which will continue until mid 2008.

The aim of stakeholder consultation is to develop a common understanding between the ABS and key clients regarding the purpose of each survey and the survey requirements relative to the purpose. This includes identifying and prioritising content, accuracy, and scope; and significant issues that could impact on the survey development, implementation or output.

To identify relevant stakeholders for consultations during the broad development phase, the Goods and Services National Statistics Centre will soon contact those organisations that made relevant submissions to the 2005 Service Industry Survey Forward Work Program review.

If you did not make a relevant submission to the review but would still like to be included in the development of any of these surveys, or would like further information please contact Melanie Taylor, Director, Goods and Services National Statistics Centre on (02) 6252 7495, or email service.industries.program@abs.gov.au.

Associate Professor Natalie Jackson from the University of Tasmania presented the second Community of Users and Producers of Statistics (CUPS) seminar on 9 November, 2007. As Director of the Demographic Analytical Services Unit (Sociology Department), Natalie presented a session on demography entitled 'Tasmania's Turnaround'.

Natalie spoke about the changes in Tasmania's population over the last 15 years and the issues that will impact on the State's population in the future. She covered issues such as the age distribution of Tasmania's migrants and the State's very high level of movements of population in each direction which combine to generate the net total population. Natalie further explained what consequences these will have for Tasmania's labour market.

The seminar was very well attended by people from local, State, and Commonwealth government as well as by community organisations, the University, and other organisations and received very favourable feedback.

CUPS is developing a new web page....

ABS in Tasmania is putting together content for the Tasmania CUPS web page. The web page will include forthcoming events such as seminar details and ABS training courses, as well as links to other relevant ABS web pages, including the Tasmania Services We Provide for Government page. The Tasmania CUPS page will be linked from the national CUPS web page, available at http://www.nss.gov.au.

If you would like more information on CUPS in Tasmania or you would like to be included on the CUPS distribution list, please contact us by email at tasmania.statistics@abs.gov.au or phone Katie Fredheim on (03) 6222 5815.

In the next few months, a range of agricultural statistical publications are due for release.

Upcoming releases include:

Agricultural Survey, Apples and Pears, Australia, 2006-07 (cat. no. 7121.0.55.002) will be released 18 December 2007. These final estimates from the apples and pears collection will include tree numbers, production, main varieties, fruit sent for processing and cool store capacity. Includes minimal state data.

Principal Agricultural Commodities, Australia, Preliminary, 2006-07 (cat. no. 7111.0) will be released on 20 December 2007. This preliminary release from the agricultural survey for the year ending 30 June 2007 will include area and production for principal agricultural commodities, and livestock numbers, at the national and state levels.

Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Preliminary, 2006-07 (cat. no. 7501.0) will be released on 12 February 2008. It will contain first estimates of the gross value of production of selected crops, livestock slaughterings and livestock products at the national and state levels.

Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2005-06 (cat. no. 7121.0) will be released in early March 2008. It will contain final estimates from the agricultural census at national and state levels and for the Murray Darling Basin region. To address the demand for statistics for a range of geographies, the publication will be supported by spreadsheets for a variety of regions including the Murray Darling Basin and Natural Resource Management (NRM) regions, Statistical Division (SD) and Statistical Local Area (SLA) levels. These data will be accessible from Agricultural Commodities: Small Area Data, Australia, 2005-06 (cat. no. 7125.0).

On 2 October 2007 the ABS released a Publishing and Dissemination Manual (cat. no. 1280.0) which guides ABS publishing activities. It is an internal document which has been published to help users to better understand ABS publishing practices and therefore ABS information. The manual contains an overview of publishing in the ABS, dissemination policy, products and their content. The manual is a live document, subject to additions and revisions as appropriate.

10/12/2007 Australia's Environment: Issues and Trends, 2007 (cat. no. 4613.0)
This publication presents a broad selection of environmental statistics and information which illustrate topical environmental issues. Data is presented by state and territory.

07/12/2007 Business Use of Information Technology, 2005-06 (cat. no. 8129.0)
This publication presents statistics on the use of information technologies by Australian businesses. Data is presented on business use of the Internet and web, including functionality of websites. Data is also provided on the extent of purchasing and selling via the Internet or web by businesses and supporting systems. Statistics are classified by Australian and New Zealand Standard Industry Classification at the Division level, state/territory and business size, based upon both employment and income.

04/12/2007 Government Finance Statistics, Australia, Sep 2007 (cat. no. 5519.0.55.001)
This release presents Government Finance Statistics (GFS) on an accrual accounting basis for the general government sector and the non-financial public sector. The key statement presented is the operating statement. Both state and local government data is presented.

29/11/2007 Patterns of internet access in Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 8146.0.55.001)
This publication presents results of analyses on patterns of Internet access in Australian occupied private dwellings based on data from the Census of Population and Housing 2006. The analyses cover Internet access by households and individuals by region and socio-demographic characteristics.

29/11/2007 Private New Capital Expenditure and Expected Expenditure, Australia, Sep 2007 (cat. no. 5625.0)
Preliminary estimates derived from a sample survey of private businesses. Contains estimates of actual and expected new capital expenditure by type of asset (new buildings and other structures/equipment, plant and machinery) and by selected Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification industries. These statistics are expressed in current prices and chain volume measures, in original, seasonally adjusted and trend terms and are available for Australia and by state/territory.

28/11/2007 Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey, Summary Results, Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 4228.0)
The Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey collected information on: literacy skills; general demographic characteristics; linguistic information; parental information; labour force activities; literacy and numeracy practices; participation in education and training; social capital and well being; information and communications technology; and household composition and income. The publication provides an overview of the relationships between literacy skills and selected characteristics for different population groups and over time. Some data is presented by state and territory.

11/10/2007 Engineering Construction Activity, Australia, Jun 2007 (cat. no. 8762.0)
Contains value of engineering construction work done, commenced and yet to be done, classified by state or territory, commodity (roads, bridges, pipelines etc), sector (public/private) undertaking the work, and sector for whom the work is being done. Includes seasonally adjusted estimates of the value of work done by sector in both current prices and in chain volume measure terms.

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